The problem for the Lakers ever since their last ring.. is that they haven't properly rebuilt.. probably because their fans and the ownership itself could never handle it. They are sort of spoiled. And they whinge about their players as being babies and not men or whatever else, but they are the biggest bunch of whining crybaby fans I've seen in a long time.

So instead of rebuilding.. they keep trying to avoid that by loading up on vet players like Artest who have big contracts but are way past their prime. They never have any star players that are young and quick.. they are always old and slow. The younger players they do have are usually scrubs. Because that's all the can afford or acquire because they trade away their picks.. and they are never in the lottery. It's a "win now" mentality.. and they are over the cap.. but it's all veterens who are past their prime. Add in chemistry issues.. and they have no chance. Being where the Lakers are at the moment is the worst position.. because they get no lottery picks.. but they aren't able to go deep in the playoffs.

So they are stuck.. and every year it gets worse, because all of those old and slow veterens just got another year older and slower. They have options in FA and can trade but teams never want to trade away their young star players.. because they are so valuable.